The villagers of Dravuni in Tailevu had waited for almost 37 years for a sea wall to protect their village from sea surges.
The sea wall, which cost $500,000, was commissioned by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama at the village yesterday.
Construction of the sea wall, 212 metres in length, began last year and was completed in February this year.
Mr Bainimarama said the usual requests made to him when he visited coastal communities around Fiji were for Government to construct sea walls to safeguard their homes and villages.
He urged villagers to also plant mangroves to ensure they protect their village and livelihood.
Villagers have witnessed sea surges and effects of climate change with seawater eroding their shoreline.
“This is a big relief to the villagers and it was hard for the villagers to relocate when the idea was mooted to us a few years back,” said village headman Niko Bole.
“Now that we have a sea wall, we are so thankful that our village and shoreline will be saved from the effects of climate change,” he said.
